Light diffusing unit



June 8, 1954 c. K.'KURTZON LIGHT DIFFUSING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1948 June 8, 1954 c. K. KURTZON 2,680,502 LIGHT DIFFUSING UNIT Filed April 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 light weight be finished in the natural aluminum color, but

Fig. 4is a light diffusing unit at an intermediate position, illustrating unit from its normal position;

the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,680,502 LIGHT DIFFUSIN G UNIT Charles Kenneth Kurtzon,

to Garden City Platl a corporation oflllinois Chicago, 111., assignor & Manufacturing 00.,

Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 23,903 3 Claims. 18985) This invention relates to a light clifiuser unit,

and particularly to means for supporting the unit underneath a series of fluorescent lights depending from a ceiling.

The use of fluorescent lights in stores, offices necessary to provide adequate illumination without eye strain or from a series of accomplished by providing of metal louvers below the fatigue. The diffusion of light fluorescent light tubes has been supplemental ceilings lights. However, the

stifiened fabrics.

The structure by which the above advantages detail in the the Fig. 5-;is a cross sectional view, taken along 2 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional the line 5-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line l-'l of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is View, taken along light diffusing units.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a fluorescent light fixture supported from direction a region slightly above the edge ofthe bar. A

pin I2, also positioned near the lower end of bar 8, projects therefrom in the opposite direction to projection H3 and stud ll. Pin 12 is preferably somewhat above stud ll, as shown. The end of pin i2 is turned upwardly, as indicated at l3.

The light diffusing units Hi each comprise a plurality of louvers formed of thin metal strips arranged in honeycombed formation, with the edges of the strips forming the top and bottom surfaces of the unit. The strips are preferably aluminum or sheet metal. They may be welded together at their meeting surfaces, or may be secured together in any suitable manner. If the louvers are aluminum they may be finished in their natural color, but it is preferred to paint them white to diffuse the light without absorbing too much of it. The height of the louvers is sufficient to conceal the fluorescent light tubes from the view of persons looking at the ceiling at an angle. The louvers must be shallow enough so that they readily reflect light to the area below.

A short loop I5 is pivoted at its lower end to one louver l6, as indicated at H. An end louver l6 (Fig. 8) of an adjacent light diffusing unit has a strap [8 projecting upwardly therefrom. A long loop is is pivoted at its lower end to the top of strap l8. This loop may be pivoted directly to the diffusing unit and thereby dispense with the strap. Loop 19 is long enough to simultaneously embrace projection H] and stud H. A wing nut 26 secures loop I9 in place against bar 6.

When any unit hi is to be removed, wing nut 20 is loosened so that the upper end of loop H) can be slid off from projection I0. Stud H is longer than projection If) so that nut 26 can be loosened sufficiently to permit loop Hi to be swung on its pivot and be slid from the projection and be engaged with the thread of stud ll. Unit 14 then assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The left hand end of unit M, as viewed in Fig. 4, may then be raised slightly so that loop l5 may be swung on its pivot l1. It will clear upturned end 13 and thus free one end of the unit. Wing nut as may then be removed from stud H to permit complete removal of unit 14.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised novel and useful means for supporting a plurality of light diffusing units in conjunction with conventional fluorescent light fixtures, with adjacent light difiusing units secured together to form a unitary cei 'ng structure that can be expanded to fit any size room. Each bar 8 supports the meeting edges of two adjacent light diffusing units. It will be understood that when the area to be covered by the light diffusing units is not an exact multiple of the individual units, units at the side or end of the ceiling may be tailored to fit into the remaining space. Channel brackets 3 may be telescoped to fit into the space. It is also possible to secure a sheet metal panel to the walls adjacent the ceiling and to secure the extreme ends 4 or 5 of the channel brackets closest to the walls to angle members projecting from the sheet metal panel.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. A light diffusing member comprising a plurality of supporting members, a pair of projec swingable outwardly on axes tions extending in opposite directions from each of said supporting members, a plurality of light diffusing units, each of said units havingappreoiable thickness and having opposite edges spaced from adjacent units a distance less than said thickness, each of said units having a pair of upwardly extending supporting members, said upwardly extending supporting members bein pivoted to said unit adjacent said opposite edges, each of said upwardly extending supporting members having means for detachably securing each of said supporting members on one of said pro jections to support opposite edges of said units at a predetermined level, each of said units being disposed parallel to the plane of the units but spaced inwardly from the outer plane thereof, one upstanding supporting member of each of said pairs of upstanding supporting members being also supportable on its projection at a level lower than said predetermined level to permit lowering of one edge of each of said units, said other upstanding supporting member of each of said pairs of upstanding supporting members being disengageable from its projection to permit unlimited lowering of its edge of said unit only after said opposite edge of said unit has been partially lowered.

2. A light diffusing member comprising a plurality of supporting members, a pair of projections extending in opposite directions from each of said supporting members, a plurality of diffusing units, each of said units having appreciable thickness and having opposite edges spaced from adjacent units a distance less than said thickness, each of said units having a pair of loops, said loops being pivoted to said unit adjacent said opposite edges, each of said loops having means for detachably securing it on one of said projections to support opposite edges of said units at a predetermined level, each of said units being swingable outwardly on axes disposed parallel to the plane of the unit but spaced inwardly from the outer plane thereof, one loop of each of said pairs of loops also supportable on its projection at a level lower than said predetermined level to permit limited pivotal movement of its edge to lower said edge below said predetermined level, said other loop being disengageable from its projection when said first mentioned edge is in its partially lowered position to permit lowering of its edge a distance sufficient to clear the adjacent edge of the adjacent unit, whereby any of said units may be removed from said supporting memers.

3. A light diffusing member comprising a plurality of light diffusing units of appreciable thickness positioned adjacent each other, each of said units having peripheral edges spaced from pcripheral edges of adjacent units a distance less than said thickness, thereby giving the appearance of a single continuous member without intervening breaks, a plurality of supporting members, each supporting member being positioned above the meeting edges of two adjacent light diffusing units, a projection extending in opposite directions from each of said supporting members, a plurality of pairs of loops, one loop of each of said pairs of loops being pivoted to one of said light diffusing units adjacent one edge thereof, said one loop being detachably connected to one of said projections to support one edge of one of said units at a predetermined level, means for supporting the other loop of said pair of loops on the opposite projection of an adjacent supporting member to support the opposite edge of said unit at either said predetermined said light diffusing member without interference level or at a lower level, to permit partial lowering from any adjacent unit.

of said opposite edge of said unit, each of said units being swingable outwardly on axes disposed References Cited in the file Of this patent parallel to the plane of the umt but spaced 1n 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly from the outer plane thereof said first mentioned loop of said pair being disengageable i ggg U lName M from its projection to permit unlimited lowering 2364992 fi i 1944 of its edge of said unit when said opposite edge 6i i 6 "f 1945 of said unit is supported in partially lowered 10 lnppensee e position to permit removal of said one unit from 2376715 Naysmith May 1945 

